Rationale
Dance is a unique form of communication that uses the body as an instrument to convey and inform life experiences through abstract symbolic movement. The study of dance is a way of knowing that contributes to students’ artistic, aesthetic and cultural education. Performance, choreography and appreciation are the central artistic practices in the study of dance.
The study of Dance is accessible to all students, each student communicates their personal interpretation of ideas and develops self-confidence, empathy and a sense of self-determination. Students develop an understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ histories and Cultures, protocols and connection to Country through dance.
In the study of dance, knowledge and skills are inextricably linked. Performance contains knowledge of and skills in dance technique, safe dance practice, interpretation and the effective communication of ideas. The study of choreography provides students with the means to generate and structure abstract symbolic movement through experimentation, analysis and refinement to communicate ideas. The analysis and evaluation of dance works is central to the appreciation of dance in artistic, cultural, social and personal contexts. Developing the skills to decode dance works and to formulate personal responses leads to informed appreciation.
The study of dance in the school curriculum provides a context to develop effective, higher-order thinking skills necessary for further education, work and everyday life. The study of dance facilitates well-rounded, disciplined, goal-oriented young people with interpersonal skills and characteristics that are essential to post-school pathways.